Game one man of the match James Tedesco wants to ruin Billy Slater’s fairytale send-off
THERE’S no room for fairytales in this year’s State of Origin according to the NSW camp, with James Tedesco boldly declaring he plans to spoil rival Billy Slater’s send-off.
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JAMES Tedesco is determined to be the man who stands in the way of a fairytale send-off for Queensland’s favourite son, Billy Slater.
The Blues will expect Queensland to take their game to another level tomorrow night in a bid to keep their Origin campaign alive and edge a step closer to sending out Slater a winner at Suncorp Stadium in game three.
Slater, who has been key to Queensland’s dominance over the past decade, announced his retirement from representative football in May, with this series his last. He missed the opening game with a hamstring injury.
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Tedesco said Queensland will be doing everything they can in Sydney to ensure Slater gets the opportunity to lift the trophy in Brisbane on July 11.
“His inclusion will be very big for them,” Tedesco said.
“They will be lifting for him.”
Queensland lacked direction in game one in Melbourne — won 22-12 by NSW — and Tedesco said Slater’s inclusion will go a long to rectifying that on Sunday night. “The experience he brings, the way he organises the defensive line and what he can do in attack, he’ll be a big factor.”
It’s almost a case of déjà vu after Slater also came back in game two of last year after missing out in the opener.
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Along with Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston, Slater inspired Queensland to the 18-16 win that saved last year’s series and set up their win in the decider.
Maroons skipper Greg Inglis believes his return tomorrow night will have a similar effect.
“It’s been said that in game one we lost over 100 games experience,” Inglis said.
“People don’t realise what Bill brings to the side. Last year it was a massive mistake on Queensland’s behalf in game one (to leave Slater out).
“He came back and you could see the difference he made to the team.
“Bill’s a one-of-a-kind and I don’t think we’ll see another player like (him) throughout the next 10 years or so.”
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Lining up opposite, Tedesco was electric for the NSW in game one, delivering a performance considered the best by a Blues fullback in recent memory.
He ran riot through the middle, and he expects Queensland’s defence won’t afford him the same space they did two weeks ago.
“I don’t know about target me, but I don’t think I’ll have the same opportunities in game two,” Tedesco said.
“I think they will tighten that defence up in the middle there, which is where we were going in game one.”
The Blues have drawn their own targets and will be on high alert for wonderkid Kalyn Ponga, who will make his debut for Queensland in Sydney.
Tedesco got a taste of how elusive Ponga can be when the Knights fullback put on a mean right-foot step that left him clutching at thin air in the Rooster’s 18-16 win in round 14.
Ponga is one of the hardest players in the game to shut down, Tedesco says, and the Blues defence will have their work cut out trying to minimise his impact.
“We just have to be patient and not give him too many opportunities,” Tedesco said.
“He can beat a player and create space for those outside me.
“He’s the best in the game at it and it’s a big job for our middle defence to close down those opportunities for him.”
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